Switch



March 2 192 1,575,454

J. K. SMITH SWITCH Fi1ed August 5, 1924 UTE. 54055511 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, i

JULiArI K. SMITH, or} o'LnvELANDQoHIo. v

swrigcm lfllppl icati'on'filed August 5, 1924.- Serial No. 7 3(i,269; v

To aZZ whom it may co'naerni Be it k11OWIl tl1at I, JULIAN' a citizenof the United States, residing at Cleveland-in the. countyjofCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches; of which the following'is a specification. 5 a a I This invention-relatesto electric switches and has for an object the provision of a switch which is capableofbeing secured to a the steering wheeloffaniautomobile for conby the said lights may be changed from trolling the headlights of the latter, wherebright to dim and vice versa without removing thef ;hands from the wheel or without removing the eyesgfromthe roadway.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a switclrwhich is simple and efficient in construction and operation and which maybe readily attached to the steering wheel whereby the .latter,-will form a Icover for the switch.

7 With the above and other objects in view,

the invention further includes the following novel; features and details of construction,

to behereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appendedfclaims.

1 In the drawings Figure 1s a fragmentary top plan view showinga portion of an automobile steering wheel with the invention applied.

Figure2 is a top plan view of the switch removed from the'wh'eelf Fi ure 3 is a bottom plan view'of the switcl'i. a

Y Figure 4 a sectional view on the line v 1-94: of Figure 1.-=

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 Figure2.

' Figure 'Gisa diagrammatic view illustrating the manner, of connecting the switch with the bile."- 1

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters ofireferencedenote corresponding parts,- the/reference character 10. indicates the rim or hand 'grip portion of an automobile steering wheel, a portion of one of the arms'or spokes being indicated The switch which is designed'for attachment to the steering wheel comprises a base block 12'. which is formed, of suitable insulating material and. which is provided K. SMITH,

terminal block of a Ford automo gitudinally along opposite edges of the block 12- and'provide a channel 14; within which is mounted the various switch elements. One of the ribs-13 isprovided with aflongitudinally extending slot 15 and extending through this slot and pivotally seicured withinfthe channel 1 1' as shownvat 16 is one end of a switch lever 17; The outer end of the lever17has secured thereto an insulated finger pie'ce18,

Secured within the channel 14 as indicated at 19 are spaced contacts 20. These contacts are located upon opposite sides of the switch arm 17 and extend within the slot 15 in the path of the switch-arm so that PATENT O,F mjE.',

with spaced'iribs13, These ribs extend lon- I the latter may be moved pivotally to engage either of the contacts or may be positioned centrally therebetween. The securing means 16 and 19 of the switch arm and contacts also provide terminals for conductor wires 21, 22 and'23. The wire 21 may lead to the bright lights, the wire 22 to the dim lights j strips 26 which are adapted to be secured around the spokes 11 are shown inFigures 1 and ,4; of the drawings and to have their opposite ends connected as indicated at 27. By reference to Figure 4 of the drawings it will be seen that this manner ofattaching the switch to the arm llfis such that the said arm bridges over the] channel and forms I.

a closure or cover for the switch, while the switch arm 17 is arrangedso that it may be conveniently operated by the driver without removing his hand from the steering wheel. In Figure 6 of the drawingsithe invention is shown as connected to the terminal block T ordinarily used in Ford automobiles. In

this figuiethe reference character 10 indicates the steering wheel, the switch arm 17 extending from beneath one of the spokes thereof. The contacts 20 and the switch arm 17 have connected thereto conductor 7 wires 28 which lead tot-he three outside terminals of the terminal block, the latter being Y connectedto the headlights and battery in the usual manner.

The invention ,is, suscepti-bleof Various changes inits form, proportions and minor in reserved tofmake such changes as properlyffall within the scope ef the appended claims;

' Having describedithe ini entien what is claimed is steering wheel, o-fan electric switch comprising a ba e; block formed Of insulating ma- 'terial and" provided ,with spaced {parallel ribs defining a central channel, one "of said "ribs having a, longitudinally disposed slot therein',"a switch arm extending through the slot and having its; inner end pivotally secured withinithe channel, spaced contacts secured withinfthe channel upon opposite sides and in the'pat-hef the arm and means for securing the swit'ch'to the steering wheel I g I channel. I t "details of construction and the rlght 1s h'e're- I I steering wheel, of an electrlc swltchcom 1. The combinaticn with;ai1 autorr l obile cured within the channel, spaced contacts 3 tween the ribs and provide a-'c 0ver for the QLThe combination with an autoinebile prising a base block formed of insulating material'and provided with spaced parallel, ribs defining'a central channel, one of said ribs having a longitudinally disposed slot 1 therein, a switch arnr extending through the slot and having its inner end pivctally t1 7 secured within the channel upon opposite sides and in the path of the-arm and loops secured within and extending from Oppo- I site ends of the channel and attaching strips 3 extending through the loops transversely of the channel for engagement around aj spoke of the steering" wheel, whereby the spoke will bridge the space between the ribs v and provide a cover for'the channel. whereby the latter will bridgethe space beg w aI N -SM I i i 

